Jim Boeke facts for kids

James Frederick Boeke (born September 11, 1938, died September 26, 2014) was a talented American football player. He played as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Jim played for teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints. He also played college football at Heidelberg College.

Early Life and College Football

Jim Boeke was born in Akron, Ohio. He went to Cuyahoga Falls High School. There, he played both football and track. He was very good at sports!

Jim earned a football scholarship to Heidelberg College. He became a strong player there, playing both offense and defense. He also earned a "letter" in track, which means he was a top athlete in that sport too.

Years later, Jim was honored for his sports achievements. In 1985, he was one of the first people added to the Heidelberg University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was also inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

Jim Boeke played many years in the NFL. He was an offensive tackle, a player who blocks for his teammates.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams picked Jim in the 1960 NFL Draft. He was a backup player at first. In 1963, he even played as a defensive tackle sometimes.

In 1964, the Rams traded Jim to the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys

Jim joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1964. The team needed more players on their offensive line because many were injured. Jim started 7 games that year. He played left tackle for some of those games.

The next year, Jim became the main starter at left tackle. He played a big role for the Cowboys. In 1966, he started 10 games. He then missed some time due to a knee injury.

One famous play involving Jim happened in the 1966 NFL Championship Game. The Cowboys were playing the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys were close to scoring, but Jim was called for a "false start." This penalty pushed the team back. The Cowboys did not score after that, and they lost the game. The Packers went on to win the first Super Bowl.

Jim played in 92 games in a row from 1960 to 1966. In 1967, he was a backup player. His last game with the Cowboys was the 1967 NFL Championship Game. This game is famous and known as the "Ice Bowl" because it was played in very cold weather. In 1968, Jim was traded to the New Orleans Saints.

New Orleans Saints

Jim played 13 games for the New Orleans Saints in the 1968 season. In 1969, he was traded again, this time to the Detroit Lions.

Later Career

The Detroit Lions wanted Jim to play right tackle. But he was traded again shortly after. He then joined the Washington Redskins in 1969. He was released from the team a short time later.

Life After Football

When Jim was not playing football, he worked as a teacher. He taught physical education and English at a middle school in Los Angeles. During his time playing for the Rams, he even worked as a bodyguard for the famous Nelson family! He later worked for Ricky Nelson, a singer and actor.

After his football career, Jim used his connections in Hollywood. He appeared in small roles in many TV shows and movies. You might have seen him in shows like Newhart, MASH, or Coach. He was also in movies like North Dallas Forty and Forrest Gump.

Jim continued to live in Southern California. He worked as a teacher and also coached high school football at Westminster High School. Jim Boeke passed away on September 26, 2014, from a serious illness called acute leukemia.

Film and TV Roles

Jim Boeke appeared in several films. Here are some of them: